Duke's TIP program

[pirateofthecarolinas]

is it worth it for a 4th grader? Did you receive any valuable information for your child? Has your child gone to any of the programs or summer camps?

TIA,

Lori

 

[clarabelle]

We have not done it (My husband has issues with Duke) Go Tar Heels!
But I understand (from other parents at my DDs school) the big advantage is getting to take the SAT early and have that experience so it is not so scary later.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

LOL, I graduated from Carolina. It's hard to even type Duke!

Lori

 

[tar heel]

The weekend/summer programs were too expensive for us, but I have a friend whose son did several and they were pleased. He incidentally is a freshman at Duke this year. I did not think the other TIP benefits were worth much -- my son got things like guides to selective colleges and universities, but I'm not sure whether it was b/c of TIP or his PSAT score.

Our schools haven't really gotten involved in the fourth grade search, and apparently my youngest will not be doing the 7th grade one since the materials did not make it home. His very young (first year) guidance counselor is sure he got them -- whatever. We could send him to a different SAT and have the scores sent to TIP, but we're not inclined to do it. It's one thing to send a 12-year-old to take the SAT when friends are doing it, but quite another to just send him on his own.

 

[kellyg403]

Yes, we have done a few of the programs for older dd19. She also did get the advantage of taking the SAT's early, I believe in 8th grade. I think it was a great learning experience and gave her the opportunities to see what the future holds. Would she have been doomed had she NOT done it? No. But, she did well enough on her SAT's in highschool to have her pick of schools.

But, she is a NC State kinda girl!

Kelly

 

[Galahad]

Our Son, now a HS Jr. did the TIP programs one summer at Duke when he was that age. I probably can't offer a lot details (He did summer programs every year - and all these years later I'm not sure I can remember which was which) but I know that we felt it was entirely worth it and he got a lot out of it. I do remember him begin very motivated by it and that motivation continued into the school year. The same program exists in other parts of the country (I think here in the midwest it's done by Northwestern). I think it's really worth it.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

I finally got a chance to talk to my daughter's AL teacher and she strongly encouraged me to register. She thinks my daughter should take the EXPLORE exam given to 5th and 6th graders in the Duke TIP. It is normally given to 8th graders. NC has become so test driven that I'm afraid of her becoming burned out.

 

[TheDoctor]

My middle child went to the program several summers during middle school and high school. She loved it. She still keeps in contact with her friends from the program. She took some college level course and had a great deal of fun.

 

[Jestocost]

Our district doesn't get involved until 7th grade. My daughter just took the ACT test in December, so I'm very interested to see what develops from here and what kind of opportunities there are.

 

[DisneyMomOK]

M1111111111

 

[wdw4us2]

DD started the program in elementary school (it was available to all the kids enrolled in gifted). She took the SAT in 7th grade and was glad she did - just for the experience. She missed getting the certificate by 8 points, but she didn't mind. It was more fun learning she had scored higher than some of the high school kids she knows from sports!

We did not do any of the summer programs because of the cost. One of my nieces friends did and it didn't really give her any advantage in the long run.

So, I would say it's worth it because of the experience of taking the SAT early. It helps avoid the pressure when you retake it in high school.